entonces
/enˈtonθes/
In Spanish, the word for 'so' is entonces.
entonces is used to introduce a logical result or to transition to a new topic in a conversation. It can also serve as a conversational filler at the beginning of a sentence to transition to a new topic or to restart a conversation, much like the English 'So…'.
Which one should you use?
While 'entonces' is used for transitions or logical sequences (like 'then'), 'así que' is used to express a consequence or result (like 'so' in 'It was raining, so I stayed home').
How does it change in a sentence?
entonces is an adverb and does not change its form based on gender or number.
How do you pronounce it?
/enˈtonθes/
Did you know?
- The phrase ¿y entonces? is used not just for 'and then?', but as a common way to say 'so what?' or 'what's the point?'
- In casual speech, entonces is frequently shortened to entonce in certain Caribbean and Andean regions.
- The Latin root of entonces involves an archaic form of 'tunc', meaning the word is essentially a linguistic fossil of an ancient way of marking time.
Examples in context
- Entonces le diré eso.I'll tell him so then.Tatoeba #1296576 by marcelostockle, translation #254434 by CK
- ¿Entonces eso es todo?So is that it?Tatoeba #10279188 by Shishir, translation #10315017 by DJ_Saidez
- ¿Entonces ahora qué hago?So what do I do now?Tatoeba #3523377 by Shishir, translation #3413149 by CK
- 92 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are planning their weekend after a long week.
- LucíaNo tengo mucho dinero.I don't have much money.
- JavierEntonces, ¿qué quieres hacer?So, what do you want to do?
- LucíaPodemos ir al parque.We can go to the park.
- JavierMe parece una buena idea.That sounds like a good idea to me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry entonces, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries entonces, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
